Chapter 7.5

Edgar thought Natalie’s slightly parted lips were about to speak.

It’s time for us to part ways.

So he interrupted her before she could say it. He kissed her and smiled.

If she wanted praise, he could give it. If she wanted laughter, he could provide that too. If she found it burdensome to hold hands with a man she didn’t love, he could let go. He could even wait while she spent time with Leonard.

But if she were to tell him, as promised, that it was time to part ways, he didn’t know how he would stop her. 

So he smiled. Natalie smiled back at him.

Edgar knew how bright and clear Natalie’s laughter could be when she was truly happy. So he also knew that the smile she gave him now was forced.

He cupped her chin and left another light kiss on her cheek. Natalie did not push him away, letting him kiss her cheek.

Not yet.

Confirming this, the vague unease that had been stirring inside him slowly subsided.

Not yet.

But one word that hadn’t settled continued to ripple through his heart.

***

The situation was becoming amusing. Frederick’s lips curled into a smile as he recalled the three people standing by the piano.

The Duke’s young lady, who was the reason for his attendance at this trivial recital. His cousin, Edgar Wharton, whom he had met again. And his cousin’s lover, who added even more intrigue to this trivial recital.

It was common in social circles to add the name of a distinguished guest to invitations to draw attention. Frederick, too, had been intrigued—not by the host’s name, but by the name of the Duke’s young lady.

“They must be trying to climb the social ladder properly.”

Frederick’s father had made no attempt to hide his displeasure when he relayed the rumor of a marriage discussion between Edgar Wharton and the Duke’s young lady. 

To summarize the Wharton and Sop families: one was a family with nothing but wealth, and the other had nothing but a title. Through marriage, the two families balanced each other’s deficiencies.

But if the famous Edgar Wharton were to gain a title as well?

The balance would be completely tipped. That imbalance deeply irritated Frederick’s father, who harbored an inferiority complex toward the Wharton family.

The rumor that Edgar Wharton had attended a masquerade ball with a woman other than the Duke’s young lady pleased the Sop family for different reasons.

Lord Sop could now hold his head high among his wife’s relatives. Frederick saw it as an opportunity—a chance to find a wife suitable for his own level.

Frederick, watching the visibly upset Duke’s young lady, began searching the drawing room for the missing Edgar Wharton.

He found him standing near the doorway, smiling kindly at the woman by his side. 

A straightforward lady paired with a lifelong deceiver—how could they be more mismatched? Perhaps there was truth to the idea that people are drawn to those unlike themselves.

When the violin performance ended, the guests began chatting in groups, returning to the true purpose of the gathering: socializing.

At that moment, Edgar Wharton entered the drawing room. The guests eagerly approached the famous blond man, as if they had been waiting for him.

The doll-like child who had once smiled brightly in front of adults had grown into an adult not much different from his younger self. He still smiled easily, remained strikingly handsome, and was still surrounded by people.

Even if Frederick hadn’t seen his cousin for a long time, Edgar’s name was impossible to forget. Wherever he went, it followed him like a popular tune.

The stunningly beautiful Edgar Wharton, Edgar Wharton who carried scandalous rumors, Edgar Wharton, the soon-to-be owner of the Flavium Theater….

Whether the rumors were good or bad, Frederick always thought the same whenever he heard the name:

‘A former illiterate orphan has become a celebrity.’

There were moments when Frederick felt the urge to reveal the secret in front of everyone: that the beautiful gentleman Edgar Wharton was nothing more than a pitiful orphan from the slums. But it was a tiresome thought. Doing so would only add another rumor to the pile. Wouldn’t it be far more entertaining to expose it right in front of him than to gossip about it behind his back?

Frederick moved toward the crowd. Passing through the people, he finally saw his cousin’s familiar figure after a long time. When he stopped and stood before him, Edgar’s blue eyes, smiling as always, turned toward Frederick.

Frederick greeted him with a cheerful smile.

“It’s been a while, my cousin.”

Edgar Wharton’s reaction was not what Frederick had expected. He had anticipated widened eyes, a flustered expression, or stunned silence—just like when Frederick had questioned him about rumors he’d heard from the servants during their childhood. 

But the boy from the past, who had shown his wounds so openly, seemed to have disappeared. Edgar Wharton was calm. The man who had heard the word “beautiful” so often it seemed part of his name now lifted the corners of his eyes and displayed his famous smile.

“It has been a while. I didn’t expect to see you here…. You haven’t changed.”

Edgar’s gaze swept over Frederick as if observing him carefully, and Frederick found it irritating. The sight of Edgar surrounded by people and himself standing awkwardly alone reminded him of a moment from their childhood. 

The pretty little boy playing the piano so skillfully, receiving praise from the adults, while Frederick had been left out of their attention—it all overlapped with the scene before him.

The Edgar Wharton of today was like a perfectly crafted statue. His smiling face seemed carved to receive an abundance of love. Frederick’s lips twisted.

“You’ve changed a lot. You’re nothing like the boy I used to know. You don’t seem like someone who couldn’t even read anymore.”

Frederick, unable to suppress the urge to break that perfect façade, jabbed at Edgar’s weakness. But Edgar Wharton merely smiled serenely.

“That’s true. A lot of time has passed. I can even recite the alphabet backward now.”

The playful joke spread laughter among the crowd. Frederick, having lost the chance to exploit Edgar’s vulnerability, forced himself to laugh along.

“Even with the passage of time, there are things one shouldn’t forget. For instance, the place where one was born or the names of one’s parents.”

The crowd laughed again, apparently taking this as another joke. But Frederick noticed it—the faintly fading smile and the hardening gaze on Edgar Wharton’s face.

Feeling triumphant, Frederick turned his attention to the young lady standing beside Edgar. Her gentle demeanor and sharp eyes gave her the appearance of an honest child, someone who didn’t seem to belong with a liar.

“Does Miss Maron know as well? Or is it a secret even from your lover?”

Startled by the sudden mention of her name, Natalie Maron looked at Frederick. But before their eyes could meet for long, Edgar Wharton stepped forward and blocked her from view. With a leisurely smile, he tilted his head to look down at Frederick.

“Are you referring to the fact that I’m good at playing the piano? I haven’t mentioned that yet. But it’s not too late to say it now.”

His face remained as radiant as ever. Yes, a well-crafted façade rarely withers.

The fake gentleman, dressed entirely in lies, was laughable. And the fact that he found it laughable only made Frederick’s pride sting even more. 

Once, the little boy had looked up at Frederick. Now, his gaze came from above. While Frederick mulled over his displeasure, Edgar Wharton turned back to his lover. The back of his golden head, turned so indifferently, annoyed Frederick more than the blue eyes that had looked down on him.

Frederick’s forced smile faltered. 

The child who had been deprived of attention and pushed aside could only stew in frustration. But now was different. Plans surged through his mind like rushing water.

It was clear that Miss Maron didn’t know Edgar Wharton’s secret. And just as clear that Edgar didn’t want her to find out. The young lady, who dutifully smiled whenever spoken to, was Edgar Wharton’s weakness.

Frederick scanned the people around him as if assessing chess pieces he could use. The Countess Verita, who had generously sponsored the Flavium Theater. Miss Allen, whose loose tongue fueled social gossip. Leonard Salinger, who was known to be close to Edgar Wharton. And Olivia Windsor, an outstanding candidate for marriage.

He also noted the faces of those who would serve as spectators. At that moment, Countess Verita, as if signaling the start of a play, spoke up.

“This summer, I’d love to go somewhere far away for a vacation. Somewhere with fresh air, not this stifling city.”

Frederick seized the opportunity and interjected.

“How about visiting the Sop family’s castle? It’s an old estate surrounded by forests. During the summer, the greenery is lush, and the air is wonderfully fresh.”

“A castle? That sounds delightful.”

The Countess’s face lit up at Frederick’s suggestion. Frederick responded with a confident smile.

“In that case, I’d like to extend a special invitation to everyone here. I’ve been meaning to host guests at the castle, and this seems like the perfect occasion.”

Frederick glanced around at the intrigued faces of the supporting cast before turning his gaze to the lead.

“Edgar, will you join us? We could spend the summer at the Sop family’s castle, reminiscing about our childhood.”

“Well, I’m not sure if I’ll have the time.”

Edgar Wharton’s response leaned toward refusal. The protagonist, hiding his secrets, was reluctant to step onto the stage.

Miss Allen, who had been eagerly listening, looked disappointed.

“It would be wonderful if Mr. Wharton could come too.”

At her childlike plea, Edgar Wharton offered a gentle smile.

“I’d love to join, but the theater keeps me so busy.”

His kind smile masked a firm rejection. Miss Allen, unable to find a way to persuade him, looked dejected. But Frederick had a solution.

“What about Miss Maron?”

Frederick noticed the excitement and subsequent disappointment that flickered across Natalie Maron’s face. Unlike her lover, the quiet young lady seemed genuinely interested in a summer retreat.

All eyes turned to Miss Maron. She, who had been silent until now, replied calmly.

“Spending the summer at a castle sounds wonderful. I’ve often imagined such trips while reading mystery novels—adventures to secretive, eerie castles.”

Her calm tone couldn’t hide the excitement in her voice as her words quickened. Edgar Wharton’s face softened into a smile as he watched his chatty lover. It was different from the smile he had given Miss Allen—this one seemed to slip out unintentionally.

“It’s just an old castle, Miss Maron. No ghosts or bodies hidden in the walls.”

Edgar’s words only seemed to pique her interest further, as Natalie Maron’s large eyes grew even wider.

Frederick seized the moment to add.

“But when I was a child, there were rumors of a ghost in a bridal gown wandering the castle. I’m sure there’s a tragic story behind it, though I can’t quite remember.”

“…Did you see the ghost yourself, Mr. Sop?”

The naïve young lady cautiously asked. Frederick smiled, satisfied with how things were unfolding.

“Why don’t you come and see for yourself, Miss Maron? Even if some can’t make it, those who can will gather together.”

Frederick observed Miss Maron, who seemed so curious that she might visit Sop Castle all on her own. Edgar Wharton, watching this unfold, touched the corner of his eyes with a troubled expression. Frederick decided to light up the stage he had carefully set, delivering his signal-like words.

“So, everyone will be coming except Edgar?”

The moment the protagonist stepped onto the stage, the lively play would begin. At last, Edgar Wharton spoke.

“In that case, I suppose I’ll go. It has been a while.”